Visiting Hampshire
The county of Hampshire has huge visitor appeal. For a short break, a longer stay or a great day out, Hampshire certainly ticks all the boxes!
As a tourist destination, Hampshire overdelivers – there are: a diversity of landscapes, stunning coastline, areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty including the magnificent New Forest; superb walking and cycling territory, the Hamble Valley with its unspoilt countryside and ‘olde worlde’ villages; the vibrant and historic cities of Portsmouth, Southampton and Winchester…and all this within easy reach of London by road or rail!
Some Quick Ideas for Tourists
- Placed around halfway on the Southern Seacoast of the UK
- the county of Hampshire is lined by Wiltshire and Dorset to the west, Berkshire to the north and by Surrey and West Sussex to the east.
- The County of Hampshire extends an region of around 3,769 square kilometres (1,455 square miles).
- The County Town: Winchester; Hampshire also includes the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton.
- Travelling to and from Hampshire: Easily reachable from all main UK cities, Hampshire is also a convenient gateway for mainland Europe, with major ports at Southampton and Portsmouth. The city of Southampton is served by an efficient local rail network and has ferry services to the Isle of Wight. Southampton International Airport is also nearby (off Junction 5 of the M27 motorway). Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester all have direct rail links and a network of scheduled coach services that connect Hampshire with London.
Popular Places to Stay in Hampshire
Hampshire boasts a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, from cosmopolitan, state-of-the-art hotels to stylish rural guest houses and charming pub-style B&Bs. Here are just a few suggestions of places to stay in Hampshire:
- Hayling Island: This little know island has a huge range of plus points. It is a quieter place to base yourself, with an old fashioned seaside holiday feel. It still has great transport routes to the other areas within Hampshire. However, you can also enjoy the seaside – which is great for the kids
- Southampton: Centrally placed and easy to access from every directions, Southampton provides an super touring base. With its rich medieval and nautical heritage, Southampton is also geared up to serve the modern day tourist; hotel and guest house rates are surprisingly low and standards are generally high, even within budget-style accommodation. There’s plenty to see and do in Southampton; visitor attractions include art galleries, museums, parks, walking tours, not to mention the city’s vibrant café culture, numerous pubs, waterside bars, restaurants, night clubs, etc.
- The New Forest: For many first-time visitors to Hampshire, the county is synonymous with the beautiful landscape of the New Forest. Here, ponies and livestock have right of way and enjoy grazing rights throughout the area. See the towns of Lyndhurst (also known as the ‘capital’ of the New Forest) and the irresistible market town of Ringwood for local flavour. Tourist accommodation is available throughout the area, ranging from independent hotels to self-catering options.
